BEAUTIFUL CITY HALLS

                                      Masterpieces Themselves

                            

  OSLO’S Radhuset

Scandinavian city halls are spectacular, nothing like dreary work buildings elsewhere. We were stunned at the gorgeous insides of all the city halls in the capitols of the area. City halls, instead of churches, dominate cities in the northern corner of Europe. In Oslo city hall is the political center and the workplace for 450 municipal employees and politicians.

            The proposal for the Oslo’s City Hall was made in 1915, but because it was in a slum area it was denied.  A competition for the building was held in 1918. The foundation for the Radhuset was poured 1931 when the slum was torn down. The building was interrupted by WW II and not completed until 1951----to celebrate the city’s 900^th birthday. In the main hall a colorful 20,000-square-foot mural shows folks, country folk and all peoples, working harmoniously for a better society. The hall has a 20-meter-high ceiling and floor space of 1500 square meters. The twin towers are of red brick. Outside the entrance, under the overhang, the walls showcase carved wooden reliefs of Norse mythology. 

Three resident artists have access to studios at the top of the tower.

On December 10 every year, the traditional ceremony for the Nobel Laureate is held in the Oslo City Hall.  The ceremony was moved to city hall in 1990 which can host 1000 guests.  Since 1905, members of the Norwegian Royal Family have been regular guests at the ceremony.

It is an amazing building.

DENMARK’S Radhus

            Denmark’s City Hall is the landmark between the train station, Tivoli, and the Stroget. The 345-foot high tower has 300 steps leading to the top. The tower’s carillon chimes its familiar tune all over the capital. The building is full of Danish symbolism inside and out. The golden statue is of Bishop Absalon, who founded Copenhagen more than 800 years ago. The Round Tower was built in 1642. Polar bears climbing on the roof represent Danish protection from Greenland. An iron gate in the center of the floor is an elevator for the transport of 1200 chairs.  The building itself was inspired by an equivalent building in Siena, Italy.

            Construction began in 1892, and the current building was inaugurated in 1905. The architect  designed it in National Romantic-style. It is dominated by its richly ornamented front, the gilded statue above the balcony and the tall, slim clock tower. In addition to the tower clock, the City Hall also houses Jens Olsen’s World Clock.  The architect used Italian Renaissance-style and  medieval Danish design.

            A fire in 1728 destroyed the original building. The second city hall was built in 1728 and destroyed by fire again in 1795.

BEATRIX POTTER

                         A Remarkable Woman

          We arrived at Beatrix Potter’s home, Hill Top, in the afternoon knowing a whole lot more about Peter Rabbit’s author from the lecture the night, before then we knew before leaving home. Beatrix Potter, the first child of Helen and Rupert Potter, was born in July 1866. Her father, a wealthy barrister, made money from cotton, and did not have to work. Beatrix and her dad were very close.

Beatrix Potter's home, Hill Top

            Mrs. Potter’s job was to take care of five servants and to host teas and dinner parties. Beatrix found her mother cold and domineering.

      As a child Beatrix had little contact with the family as she stayed on the third floor of the family home, Bolton Gardens, with a governess. She was excited when at age six a brother was born--- now she would have a playmate. She was in her mid teens before she joined the family for dinner.

      Beatrix kept a journal between the ages of 15-30, but it was all written in code. When the journal was discovered in 1950 it took nine years to decode. Because of this journal it is known what her early years were like. Why a code? Some speculate her mother was nosy and intrusive.

      At age 16 she met and became friends with Vicar Roonsly who encouraged her to write and draw. She and her brother kept all kinds of critters in their third floor abode. Beatrix named them all and created stories about them. She was a naturalist at an early age! At 24 Beatrix started drawing greeting cards, receiving   six pounds for the first batch. This turned into a profitable business for her for several years.

      She also became an expert on fungi, an interest which was sparked on vacations to Scotland. She conducted extensive experiments and, at age 31, presented a paper on spore formation and other theories. The paper was presented under a male pseudonym, as in those days women did not do such things or attend ‘male conventions’.

      Her last governess, Annie Carter, left to marry. When she had children Beatrix sent picture letters to the children—the beginning of her books. However, she submitted Peter Rabbit to six publishers, only to receive six rejections, so she self published 150 copies, sold them to friends, and then ordered 200 more copies. Peter, Flopsie, Mopsie, and Cottontail have been famous ever since. As we all know her books combine fantasy with reality joining children and adults. She drew all the illustrations for her books.

      Beatrix was very much dominated by her parents. She met and fell in love with Norman, and of course  her parents  did not approve. They did not marry as    Norman    died   shortly afterward unexpectedly of  pernicious anemia. Devastated by Norman’s death Beatrix moved to England’s Lake District in 1905 buying Hill Top and its 34 acres for a sum of 2800 pounds.

      When 46, she  met and fell in love with William Heelis. Again her parents disapproved as they were getting older and wanted her around to take care of them. Fortunately, her brother returned home at this time and informed his parents that he had been secretly married for six years and that they should let go of Beatrix. In 1913, at age 47, Beatrix and William married, and there after she was known as Beatrix Potter Heelis. She became a sheep farmer’s wife only writing four books after her marriage.

      But Beatrix was no lady of leisure. She often was thought to be a bit eccentric. She dressed as a farmer’s wife not as the wealthy person she had become. She often wore hats to cover the bald spots left from a bout of rheumatic fever she suffered in her 20s. Beatrix, a bit of a recluse, shunned publicity. She put electricity into the barns before she put it in the house because she thought the animals would appreciate it more.

      Saving the Herdwick sheep from extinction to a now thriving population is accredited to Beatrix Potter Heelis.  She became the first woman to serve as president of the Herdwick Sheep Association.

      Her father died a year after her marriage. After being widowed, her mother moved in with Beatrix, but five years later Beatrix bought her mother a farm and moved her into it. Thereafter, she visited her mother for one hour each Wednesday afternoon. A stroke caused the death of her brother at age 46.

      In 1929 she wrote Fairy Caravan which was published in the United States and not sold in England until after her death. It is said to be autobiographical and mentions many local residents.  She died of bronchitis on December 22, 1943.She donated 15 farms and over 4000 acres to the National Trust. Hill Top has been open to the public since 1946.